A new ethics law has been signed by Vermont Governor Phil Scott. The bill implements reforms and establishes an ethics commission. Advocates say they’re pleased to see such reforms implemented, but say overall it’s a weak measure.
S.8 places new restrictions on lobbying and pay-to-play practices. It requires candidates for statewide office to release their most recent tax returns. It also creates a five-member commission that will collect and refer ethics complaints.
Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos says he has been working to get an ethics bill passed since he was elected in 2011. He says one problem has been the perception that Vermont is so small people will know when something is amiss. “The vast majority of our elected officials at the local level, state level, are honest. They have integrity. They’re working hard to meet their constituents’ needs. And it’s just a few bad apples here and there that can cause a great problem. But I think there’s also there’s no place to go right now to ask if you have a problem or if you a conflict of interest. Putting the ethics commission in place is a step towards that.”
The ethics commission will have a part-time director and no enforcement authority, instead referring complaints to the Attorney General and appropriate agencies. Condos calls it a good start toward comprehensive ethics reform. “The fact that it’s been formed is a good step in the right direction. I do have concerns about a part time executive director especially when you look at the duties that have been assigned. I just don’t see how that part time executive director can complete all the duties. On the other hand we now have an ethics commission in place. So if we can show that there is plenty of work to do they can now go back with the evidence to show the legislature that yes indeed we do have a problem and we need to beef this up.”
Advocates who lobbied for the ethics reform bill are generally in agreement that the legislature passed a weak measure that is a starting point for future reforms.
Vermont Public Interest Research Group Executive Director Paul Burns describes his response to the bill signing as tempered exuberance. He calls the commission weak but says other elements of the bill are stronger. “That does include more financial disclosure for legislative candidates. We’ve become the first state in the country to require statewide candidates to release their tax returns. And then there are two other pieces. One addresses the problem of the revolving door between elected or appointed government officials and lobbying firms. And the other addresses the problem of where individuals or corporations give a campaign contribution to somebody who after getting elected turns around and gives a very large state contract to that person or corporation that made the contribution. That’s called pay to play.”
ACLU of Vermont Policy Director Chloe White calls the bill a great step to help Vermont with continuing ethics reform. “Vermont was one of the only states in the country that didn’t have an ethics commission and now we do. Or we’re going to set one up. Which is great, it’s great progress. There’s some good language in the bill about the revolving door and about disclosure. We do wish it could go a little further in terms of giving the commission investigatory and authority. Right now it’s kind of just a filter that funnels the complaints to the different bodies and does some education work. But all in all we’re pleased with this good first step towards better government transparency.”
First-term Republican Governor Phil Scott signed the bill Wednesday.
